New Zealand, Australia send aid to Philippines

WELLINGTON - New Zealand and Australia on Sunday donated an immediate US$490,000 (S$610,951) towards relief efforts in the typhoon-ravaged Philippines and said additional support could follow.

Wellington chipped in US$124,000 and Canberra gave US$366,000.

New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully said their aid had gone to the Red Cross to help the organisation maintain emergency supplies and carry out impact assessments following the devastation of super typhoon Haiyan (Philippine name: "Yolanda").

"New Zealand will consider further support as the full extent of the damage becomes clear," he said, following one of the most powerful typhoons in history, believed to have killed 1,200 people in the Philippines, according to the Red Cross.

McCully's Australian counterpart Julie Bishop said she was saddened by the loss of life and damage to homes and property.